Anxiety Support for a Teen
Hi,
Does anyone know of any program or support for teens suffering from anxiety. I am looking for a place, person, organization that can guide and help me and my teen in dealing productively with anxiety. Learn some coping skill.
Thank you in advance.
Sep 5, 2019
Parent Replies
Kaiser has great support groups. My daughter recently started in a middle school age group there that meets once a week, and parents meet separately as a group at the same time with a therapist.
Comprehensive Wellness in Walnut Creek has weekly support groups for both parents and children dealing with anxiety. The gal who runs them (Allyson Mayo) is a doctor of behavioral health and is amazing! https://www.comprehensivewellness.org/groups/
Clearwater counseling in Oakland (bear Oakland Kaiser) was amazing for work with teens!!
I would recommend a website called GoZen.com. (I have no financial interest in this website). Fair warning, though--it is geared toward little kids. However, it was recommended to me by a therapist friend of mine, and I warned my teen it was geared toward small kids and that warning enabled her to be open to it. It uses cartoons to help explain the physiology of anxiety and then goes on to explain some skills (breathing exercises, logic, etc.) that can help people while they are having anxiety. This is a pdf that explains anxiety in an approachable way: http://www.selfhelpguides.ntw.nhs.uk/penninecare/leaflets/selfhelp/Anxi… that might be more teenager level. The cartoons are a bit better at showing examples, though, I think. These two resources helped a lot while I was trying to navigate my insurance to get an appointment with a counselor. I know this isn't completely what you asked for, but I thought I'd throw it out there as it helped me quite a bit!
Try Dialectic Behavior Therapy classes/programs. The ones I know last about 6 months and involve both parent(s) and child. Clearwater (private) and Kaiser Richmond both have DBT programs for teens. I am a Kaiser patient, but went with my kid to Clearwater because driving to Richmond at night (that's when the program takes place) would be difficult for us.